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Liam Byrne said children with alcoholic parents are much more likely to follow the same path

Over half of councils have no plan to help and almost everywhere is cutting treatment budgets for adults who drink too much

Liam Byrne

The findings, obtained by Freedom of Information requests, come after Public Health England launched a review into the “growing problem” of drug addiction, particularly to prescription drugs.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has pledged an extra £500,000 to help the children of alcoholics in response to a high-profile campaign by the Sunday Express in partnership with The National Association for Children of Alcoholics.

Mr Byrne said: “Our campaign has delivered a new Government commitment for a national plan of action but that’s got to bring with it support for helplines, for children, and a big increase in help for parents trying to cut down or quit.”

The research found 92.4 per cent of the 53 councils that provided data had cut budgets for drug and alcohol treatment.